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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland’s George Colligan to Headline Montavilla Jazz Festival August 20–21, 2016
Montavilla Neighborhood Association also announces grants to local schools that expand music education opportunities for youth.
PORTLAND, Oregon—May 19, 2016—One of Portland’s most celebrated jazz performers and composers, multi-instrumentalist George Colligan, will headline Montavilla Jazz Festival 2016. Now in its third year, the festival features local jazz artists on the forefront of creative expression.
The Montavilla Neighborhood Association is pleased to announce that the festival will be hosted at Portland Metro Arts on August 20–21, 2016. This year, several extraordinary local musicians will perform new compositions as well as host world-class musicians in their ensembles:
- Pianist Kerry Politzer will perform works from her new album, Below the Surface, and feature New York City saxophonist, Laura Dreyer.
- Guitarist Mike Gamble’s group, the InBetweens, will feature New York City drummer Conor Elmes and bassist Noah Jarrett (acclaimed pianist Keith Jarrett’s son).
“The Montavilla neighborhood is becoming an epicenter of arts and culture in Portland,” said Neil Mattson, development director for the festival. “We created the Montavilla Jazz Festival to capitalize on the neighborhood’s appreciation and support of local artists and world-class cultural events. Jazz is one of America’s greatest gifts to the arts community, and we are thrilled by what the talent lineup and quality of the festival means to our neighborhood and community.”
Additional artists will also perform new, original work and offer attendees the opportunity to explore music that makes Portland a unique city on the forefront of moving jazz into the next millennium.
Homegrown artist George Colligan is a central player on the national jazz scene.
George Colligan is one of the most original and compelling jazz artists of his generation. An award-winning composer (a Chamber Music America/Doris Duke Foundation grant recipient) and performer, Colligan is highly in demand as a sideman. He has worked with jazz greats like Cassandra Wilson, Don Byron and Buster Williams and has appeared on more than 100 albums, including 24 of his own recordings as a composer. His latest album on the Origin Records label, The Endless Mysteries, features Larry Grenadier and Jack DeJohnette. Colligan is an assistant professor at Portland State University and was previously on the faculty of the Juilliard School.
As the headliner for both nights of the festival, pianist Colligan will perform new original compositions in two different incarnations. On the opening night of the festival, he’ll showcase Fathers and Sons, a set of original music that features Colligan performing with the Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble. Led by executive director Douglas Detrick, the ensemble is a 12-piece jazz chamber orchestra that commissions and performs original works by its members and by other jazz composers in the Portland music community.
On the second night of the festival, the George Colligan Trio will take the stage. The group will feature an array of talent in the form of New York City stalwarts Rudy Royston and Boris Kozlov. Drummer Rudy Royston is a formidable powerhouse, having performed with greats like Bill Frisell, Les McCann and Ravi Coltrane. Bassist Boris Kozlov is a two-time Grammy Award winner who currently serves as bassist, arranger and musical director for the Mingus Big Band, Mingus Dynasty and The Orchestra.
“I’m looking forward to the festival, which will be a great opportunity to unveil some of my recent projects,” noted Colligan. “It’s important to create a supportive environment in Portland that allows artists to experiment and push the boundaries of music. The Montavilla Jazz Festival not only delivers a wonderful cultural experience for artists and fans but also paves the way for the next generation of local artists.”
Montavilla Jazz Festival generates community support for music education.
As a project of the Montavilla Neighborhood Association and a small group of Portland residents, the festival is also focused on supporting the next generation of local creative students.
With a national trend of limited funding for music and arts programs, festival organizers worked closely with the Montavilla business community to create new opportunities for area youth in the form of the Montavilla Schools Music Fund. This year, the festival has granted $2,000 to three neighborhood schools, made possible with proceeds from festival ticket sales. The grants were awarded to Bridger Elementary, Creative Science School and Vestal School through a competitive proposal process. Each school will use the grants to enhance music education through inclusive opportunities for students to explore their creative potential.
“Schools are a vibrant reflection of their community,” said Emily Glasgow, principal of Vestal School. “The joy of music is something that every student should have the opportunity to experience. With the opportunity to bring new resources to our students through the Montavilla Schools Music Fund, we are thrilled by the support of the community to enrich the creative environment of our school.”
In the spirit of jazz, everyone has something to bring to the table. The Montavilla Jazz Festival believes that everyone has a part to play in the support of music, culture and experiences that bring us together. Individuals, businesses and organizations are encouraged to get involved with the Montavilla Jazz Festival through volunteer and sponsor opportunities.
Dates and Location:
When: Saturday and Sunday, August 20–21, 2016
Where: Portland Metro Arts, 9003 SE Stark, Portland, OR 97216
Festival Passes: Information about day-pass prices and availability to be announced soon
Contact:
About Montavilla Jazz Festival:
The Montavilla Jazz Festival supports and strengthens local music culture and enriches the community by showcasing the best of Portland’s originally composed, progressive jazz. Montavilla Jazz Festival is a project of the Montavilla Neighborhood Association and is fiscally sponsored by SE Uplift, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and coalition of twenty Portland neighborhoods.
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